AARP Eye Center
Courtesy of Dollar Tree
Treasured Thanksgiving traditions will resume with gusto this year as more people are protected against the coronavirus and most mask mandates have disappeared.
You want your home to look warm and inviting this season, but perhaps you’re on a budget. Dollar stores offer affordable yet stylish holiday home decor and decorations — everything from pumpkin decorations to scented candles to tableware.
AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.
Most items cost really do cost $1 at retailers, such as 99¢ Only Stores, Dollar General and Family Dollar, but some products may cost more, especially if sold online in bulk. At Daiso, the Japanese dollar store, some items cost $1 but most cost $1.50, $1.99 or more. And Dollar Tree now typically charges $1.25 or more.
Katherine Colombo, 64, of Petaluma, California, typically shops at a Dollar Tree for Thanksgiving decor. “It’s economical, and sometimes when I’m done with the items I put them out for free for others to use,” in keeping with the season’s giving spirit, she says.
Low prices and fresh, fashionable home decor are what attract shoppers, says Katie Ellison, a spokeswoman for Dollar General. Decorating for the holidays “is made easy ... without a huge cost,” she says.
Here are 10 items perfect for Thanksgiving that you can find at dollar stores.
1. Rustic plaids
Home decor items from plates to throw blankets in plaids, especially black-and-white plaid, are popular again this year. The timeless patterns are perfect for Thanksgiving or any time of year and bring a more modern look to a home..
99 Cents Only Stores are selling small, soft checkered pumpkins ($1.29) and plaid table runners ($3.99). Dollar Tree is offering a variety of checkered tableware, including place mats and rectangular serving platters in two color choices.
2. Comfort items
Indulge yourself with thankful-themed pillow or throw blankets even if they cost more than $1.
Dollar General stores sell plush pillows with phrases like “Farm Fresh Pumpkins” and “Grateful” for $10 to $12. Those stores also offer plaid throw blankets with fringe in various colors for $15. Pillows at 99 Cents Only Stores, with sayings like “hello pumpkin” and “Harvest” cost $7.99.
3. Lights
Adding festive lights is a simple way to raise the warmth and brightness of any indoor or outdoor setting. Dollar General stores offer various LED-lit pumpkins — from $7 to $18 for a tiered tabletop-version. Dollar Tree sells mini LED lights shaped like leaves or pumpkins for $1.25.
4. Crockery
Spice up your Thanksgiving table with ceramic or stoneware plates, bowls and mugs in various autumn themes and colors from dollar stores. For some more unusual, and pricier, head to Dollar General for ceramic pumpkin soup bowls with removable tops (they come in orange, cream and olive green) for $7 or a lidded white ceramic pumpkin pie dish for $12.
